CHINA'S COAL

Evening Star, Issue 17225, 15 December 1919, Page 2

CHINA'S COAL

AMPLE TO SUPPLY WORLD'S NEEDS. Professor James Murdoch, professor of Oriental Studies at the University of Sydney, gave an inaugural leoture on December 3. In introducing the professor to the audience Mr H. E. Barff (registrar) said that Professor Murdoch came to them with a reputation from long residence in th_e East, and was a great authority on the history of Japan and all matters connected with that country. The lecturer said Canton and Port Darwin were separated by no greater distance than Sydney was ito Perth. We had. therefore, to realise who were our neighbors. Australia had a population of about five millions, wbilo China had somewhere between 350 and 400 millions. China, though a pcor country at tho present time, was really the richest country in the world on account of her inimsnre resources of iron and coal. As an iron and steel country China might some day even rival America. What was wanted was capital and exports to develop these resources. He mentioned that if all the coal •in the rest of tho world should go up in

flames to-morrow, live coal measures of Shansi would bo sufficient lo supply all requirements of industry for several thousands of_ years. When this became available (as it might before 10 years), coal owners and coal miners would find that they would have a very awkward outeide factor to reckon with. " Japan, as- a manufacturing and industrial nation," said Professor Murdoch, " has even now to be very seriously reckoned with. Her_ mercantile marine is already the chief carrier on the Pacific, and in naval power she ranks third among the States of the world; and she is sedulously expanding and perfecting her armaments, for her rulers seem to trust, more to keeping her powder dry than in the League of Nations."